Opinion

Save important learning experiences

Nashoba Publishing

Posted:
11/02/2012 07:37:08 AM EDT

A group of concerned parents came together last week to write a petition to reinstate the Florence Roche Elementary School third-grade field trip to Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II. So far, we have collected more than 40 signatures on a paper version. I am forwarding the following online version of the petition (see link below) in the hope that you too will support this effort.

We feel this field trip is irreplaceable and should be available for all current and future third-grade students. Thanks to the efforts of Ms. Snow, a grant was secured for her students and 25 additional students to travel once again this year to Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II. Unfortunately, this does not give all third-grade students equal opportunity to have this unique educational experience. Please see attached letter from Florence Roche Principal Russ Hoyt.

At the PTA meeting held on Oct. 18, Hoyt and Vice Principal Liz Garden indicated that the five third-grade teachers came to the nonunanimous consensus that they would rotate the Plimoth Plantation field trip every three years with other field trips such as to the Museum of Science. This would result in Plimoth Plantation role players coming to Florence Roche instead. Although we are in support of all field trips that support our districts' curriculum, the experience, as a class, at Plimoth Plantation cannot be replaced with an in-school version.

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Many parents have offered to help and assist Hoyt and Garden in securing grants for both the Museum of Science and Plimoth Plantation, but Principal Hoyt stated that students could not afford to spend two days a year out of the classroom on out-of-school learning.

While in-classroom experience is valuable, it is these select field trips that create a link for students between memorizing facts and real-life understanding of history, science and math. These field trips help teachers make learning applicable and fun in a way that is otherwise unachievable.

Please go to the addressbelow to read and sign the petition which will be submitted to the principal, vice principal, superintendent and the School Committee for review.

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